Our MPs' expenses at a glance

The following is sample of some of the expenses that Westcountry MPs have claimed for, compiled by WMN London Editor Matt Chorley.

CORNWALL MPs

Colin Breed - Lib-Dem, South East Cornwall

Claims included £66.97 for repairs to "post box lock"; £435.50 to "supply and fit curtain track, curtains and fittings" for sitting room and bedroom and fit wardrobe doors; £130 on bed linen; £3,650 for redecorating and £1,806 for carpets, including paying the fitter to move his furniture.

Food: £14,750 (four years)

2007-08: £17,807

2006-07: £16,244

2005-06: £14,571

2004-05: £20,902

Andrew George - Lib-Dem, St Ives

Claims included £30,953 for hotel bills and £9,919 for meals before buying a flat in 2006/07. After, claims included £3,999.12 on furniture and beds, including a £4.25 oven glove, £1.38 toilet brush and £2.49 grater; £249 futon; £200 sofabed; £20 torch; £450 television; £160 for two radios; £970 new bath and shower; and £4.99 on a telescopic flick duster.

Made monthly mortgage interest payments of £1,750 in 2005-06 and 2006-07. This was his only regular claim.

Food: £0

2007-08: £20,250

2006-07: £19,250

2005-06: £18,685

2004-05: Not elected

Linda Gilroy - Lab, Plymouth Sutton

On top of mortgage costs, claimed £675 for cleaning bills; £24.99 electric fan in 2005- 06 – the only furnishings claim. Agreed to repay almost £2,000 after claiming twice for two bills, including council tax.

Food: £3,000 (four years)

2007-08: £20,283

2006-07: £21,938

2005-06: £21,634

2004-05: £16,007

Nick Harvey - Lib-Dem, North Devon

In addition to accommodation costs, he also claimed £2,544 for cleaning his second home and £928.25 for a boiler repair in 2006-07. No furnishings claimed in last four years.

Claims mainly included mortgage, council tax and utilities bills; £188 two rugs; £100.25 curtains; £137.64 small household goods including lightbulbs; cleaning bills totalled more than £1,300 over three years. Receipts from 2004-05 have been lost by Commons authorities.

Food: £6,230 (three years)

2007-08: £22,096

2006-07: £22,110

2005-06: £21,613

2004-05: £20,878

Hugo Swire -Con, East Devon

Claims mainly included rent on Devon home and utility bills; also £128 servicing AGA; £542 for new bathroom suite and decorating; £3,690 cleaning. Detailed receipts for 2004-05 not published by Commons authorities.

Food: £4,401 (three years)

2007-08: £22,802

2006-07: £22,022

2005-06: £21,453

2004-05: £20,899

Richard Younger-Ross - Lib-Dem, Teignbridge

Has repaid £6,352.01 for "luxury" items bought on expenses including a £1,120 hi-fi, four mirrors, a £1,475 designer chest of drawers and a "Don Juan" bookcase. Items claimed for include £140 "Partington super dreadnought graphite" speaker stands; a £225 Brigitte Forestier bedroom stool; a £189 DVD player; £64 on cushions; two rugs totalling £300; curtains £45 and a £266 "upright cleaner". He also claimed £1,510 for cleaning his second home.

Let's get rid of the lot of them. Rotten to the core, all of them. They're taking us for the ride the likes of which have not been seen in Disney Land.
£XXk on food? The rest of us have to pay for our food from our wages/salaries.
Let's have some public floggings!

Under the freedom of information act we have been given the MP's receipts that are blanked out. This remines me of an old TV programe that our politicans adhere to with their expences. YES YOU HAVE GOT IT, BLANKETY BLANK.

What rankles the most, besides disgust at these nrevalations of misuse of public funds, is the sheer hypocricy of these people. They all claim that these costs are their rightful entitlement and they need to live in luxury, in a large house/flat, as befits their status. If you are a married couple on low earnings and need a housing benefit top up in order to meet your rent you are only entitled to one lounge and one bedroom. Who decides your entitlement - yep! these same greedy, grabbing bunch of MP's.